Meet Jungle, the creative and activist who's bringing Seoul's trans community together
On a sweltering spring day, Jungle has come to a quiet coffee shop on a hill overlooking Itaewon, the Seoul neighborhood she calls home, for a brief moment of reflection. A few weeks prior, the Korean model, activist, performer, and creative launched, a party series that celebrates and uplifts transgender people.
The resilient Jungle has always been in motion. Born and raised in Busan, she moved to Seoul as soon as she was able and went on to Paris and London to pursue acting, before returning to Seoul in her early 30s. It was in Seoul that she became a beloved drag artist, performing at clubs in Itaewon for several years . “Drag can be a great gateway to explore gender expression,” she says.
Then there was the fragmented state of the LGBTQ+ community itself. “As for the queer community, the word ‘queer’ has been spreading more and more in recent years, but we still feel separate. Gay people need to know about trans issues in Korea.” She grows solemn when speaking of Hee-soo Byun, who underwent gender-affirming surgery and was forcibly discharged from the Korean military despite fighting for the right to serve; she tragically took her own life in 2021.
And so Transparent was born. “Just like the name says, I want to be transparent,” Jungle says. “I have no shame about myself, and I don’t want anyone to feel like they have to hide who they are. Also, trans people often self-parent, or we support each other like parents. I wanted us to feel like we take care of each other.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Meet the first-ever 'Veterinarian of the Year'The Westminster Kennel Club named Dr. Joseph Rossi from Pennsylvania the very first veterinarian of the year!
Read more »
Families of Uvalde victims set to meet with committee investigating school shootingThe loved ones of those killed in a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, are expected to meet in private Sunday with a committee of state lawmakers investigating the massacre.
Read more »
Meet the Ukrainian Number Theorist Who Won Math’s Highest HonorWith her homeland mired in war, the sphere-packing number theorist Maryna Viazovska has become the second woman to win a Fields Medal in the award’s history.
Read more »
Meet an attorney with $347,000 in student debt who can't land a jobMeet a first-generation attorney with $347,000 in student debt who can't land a job and says 'there are a substantial number of people like me that are being forgotten'
Read more »
Meet the Senate's 78-year-old Instagram InfluencerBRUNSWICK, Maine – I should have known when Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) told me he didn’t love the term “influencer,” the balloons might not go over well. So when I pulled two large, shiny, made-for-Instagram foil balloons out of the car, they were met with what should have been a predictable response: an awkward smile. But King played along, flashing…
Read more »
Meet The Midwestern Retailer Quietly Making A Fortune Selling Used Stuff—And Beating The S&P 500Winmark Corp.—which oversees 1,300 franchised resale stores like Plato’s Closet, Play It Again Sports and Once Upon A Child—has a long history of being profitable and keeping shareholders happy.
Read more »